On day two of the Tata Steel Masters group in Wijk an Zee. Vladislav Artemiev showed that not only does he belong in the top group, but that he can contend as well.
On the White side of the English the young Russian ground down his more experience countryman Nikita Vitiugov.
Here is a position that shows some things I’m really trying to refine in my own games:
How often would a club player either trade or not trade queens almost automatically as a matter of personal preference? Well here Artemiev trades queens, but for a specific reason.
After 16.Qxd8+ Rxd8 17.Be3 0-0 18.Bb6 it becomes clear that White will now control the d file as Black has difficulty challenging that control since White controls the d8 square.
At the same time, should Black recapture the queen with a move such as 16…Bxd8 then after 17.Bf4 White has a much better position:
Here is the entire game:
All in all a good performance by Artemiev and proof that he’s a got a bright future.
Til Next Time,
Chris Wainscott
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